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Lawrie day to day after getting hit by pitch in hand

Blue Jays third baseman replaced prior to next at-bat against Yankees

6/18/14: Brett Lawrie is hit by Chase Whitley's pitch on the hand in the top of the 4th

By Gregor Chisholm
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MLB.com |

NEW YORK -- Blue Jays infielder Brett Lawrie is considered day to day after he was struck on his left hand by a pitch during Wednesday's 7-3 loss to the Yankees.

It marked the second time in less than a week that Lawrie's left hand was hit by a pitch. A similar incident occurred Saturday in Baltimore, and it also happens to be the same hand that Lawrie fractured in 2011.

The constant abuse Lawrie's hand seems to be taking was cause for major concern, but X-rays taken during the game were negative, and the 24-year-old still hopes to play Thursday night.

"It's not too bad, it's just a little sore, obviously, swelling in there, but for the most part, it's all right," Lawrie said. "I feel I should be able to go when I get up [Thursday]. We'll see how it feels once I grab a bat and stuff."

The latest incident took place in the fourth inning. Yankees right-hander Chase Whitley came inside with an 83-mph changeup, and Lawrie wasn't able to get out of the way. He appeared to be in a lot of pain, though he initially remained in the game and later scored in Toronto's two-run inning.

In the fifth, however, Steve Tolleson went into the on-deck circle to take Lawrie's spot in the batting order. Edwin Encarnacion then grounded out to end the inning, and Tolleson took over at third base in the bottom half of the frame.

Lawrie was confident right away that it wasn't anything too severe, and he was later proven right by the X-rays.

"It hasn't been that kind of pain, that was a different kind of pain for me," Lawrie said in reference to the broken hand he suffered in 2011. "I judge it off that. It still hurts, but the hand has so many little bones in there, just being cautious, went and got it checked out, and everything was positive. Move on to tomorrow and see what tomorrow brings."